Do you give your kids cold medicine?

Celestrina wrote: DS (he's five) is coming down with a cold and I was going to get some medicine for him. Are they effective? Which would you recommend? He has a cough, runny nose, and sneezing. Have you had any problems with hyperactivity or sleepiness?

ZandersMama replied: i dont, just because i dont find they work. rest, saline and a humidifier.

eta, oh yeah, big time hyperactivity, coupled with more coughing because he wont sit down and rest.

BabyOwen427 replied: I just give my son mucinex when he's congested, and tylenol when he's feverish. Other than that and a daily vitamin not much else. Lots of juice and lots of tissues.

CantWait replied: The ONLY time I give cold medicine is a. either at night when they are coughing so much they can't fall asleep, or b. during the day where they are coughing so much that they are puking.

Otherwise I don't believe in it. I would try hot liquids first, Vicks, cough drops or candy, hot steam. I just went through this last week and can't think of the other things. Cough medicines rarely work, depends on the type of cough and with kids, one can never tell. Plus giving too much all the time leads to a resistance later.

mckayleesmom replied:
Ditto. I will give them something with something in it to help them sleep...During the day I usually just let it run its course. Those are also give and take though...One night it might make them sleep and the next night the same medicine will make them hyper...

Nina J replied: If it is a phlegm producing cough I might get something with an expectorant if I can't get a doctor's appointment for a couple of days.

I read they were ineffective. I prefer to go with vicks, steam, rest and fluids. And if it doesn't improve, I go to the Dr.

Jamison'smama replied: I give it occasionally. I know when I have a cold, I always feel better on cold medication so I imagine they do too.

Hillbilly Housewife replied: no.. they don't get medecine of any kind, really, unless they are running a high fever and it doesn't come down on its own in a timely fashion.

If they're really coughing.. like, REALLY dry coughing.. i might rub some vicks to help loosen it up.

I'm all natural here!!

Cece00 replied: yes, i do. why on earth would i give them something to feel better if they are sick?

Celestrina replied: Thank you everyone for your help. Now if I could just find the filter for his humidifier.

luvmykids replied: I give them Benadryl along with Tylenol when they're sick. There's been some controversy but I've had three pediatricians and a pharmacist tell me they SWEAR by Benadryl for everything, not just allergies. I do the Vicks and humidifier too.

PrairieMom replied: we are pretty liberal with the Tylenol, but not much else. Nothing to supress a cough, nothing to stuff up noses.

MommyToAshley replied: The humidifier usually does the trick for Ashley. But, she's never had a cough so bad that she's puked -- I can't imagine, that would be aweful.

Mommy2Isabella replied: We don't do medication here! Sit them in the bathroom with a hot steamy shower going, vicks, humidifier ...